What's happening
This bill expands free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses to active duty, reserve, and certain honorably discharged military veterans in New York.
Why it matters
Broader eligibility for free licenses. This bill significantly expands access, allowing not just current New York residents on active duty, but *all* active and reserve members of the U.S. armed forces and organized militia—regardless of where they’re stationed—to receive free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses. This recognizes the service of military personnel beyond state borders.
Inclusion of long-serving veterans. Veterans with ten or more years of honorable service (active or reserve) in the armed forces or organized militia, who have been honorably discharged, will now qualify for free licenses. This extends benefits to a substantial group of retired military personnel previously excluded.
Reduced red tape for qualifying. The bill removes various residency and leave restrictions for military members, making it easier and less bureaucratic for eligible individuals to obtain these licenses. This streamlines access and reduces paperwork for those serving or who have served.
Potential impact on outdoor recreation and community. By broadening license access for military and veteran populations, the bill may encourage greater participation in outdoor activities, foster connection to New York’s natural resources, and serve as a gesture of appreciation for military service.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Licenses for Service Members
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Free Licenses for Military
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor David DiPietro
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3991
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 22, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to persons who are active or reserve duty members of the Unites States armed services or of the organized militia, and to certain veterans thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 11-0715 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by section 4 of part R of chapter 58 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
2. A member of the Shinnecock tribe or the Poospatuck tribe or a member of the six nations, residing on any reservation wholly or partly within the state, is entitled to receive free of charge a fishing license, a hunting license, a muzzle-loading privilege, a trapping license, and a bowhunting privilege; a [resident of the state who is a] member of the United States armed forces in active service [who is not] regardless of where he or she is stationed [within the state and has not been herein longer than thirty days on leave or furlough], is entitled to receive free of charge a fishing license, a hunting license, and a trapping license; [a resident of the state who is] an active member of a force of the organized militia [of the state of New York] as defined by section one of the military law, or the reserve components of the armed forces of the United States, and excluding members of the inactive national guard and individual ready reserve, is entitled to receive free of charge a fishing license, a hunting license, and a trapping license; a person, having ten or more years of military service, who has been honorably discharged from active or reserve service in the United States armed forces, or from a force of the organized militia as defined in section one of the military law, excluding the inactive national guard and individual ready reserve, is entitled to receive free of charge a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02954-01-9
S. 3991 2
fishing license, a hunting license, and a trapping license; and a resident who is blind is entitled to receive a fishing license free of charge. For the purposes of this subdivision a person is blind only if either: (a) his or her central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses, or (b) his or her visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is accompanied by a limitation of the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.
A resident in the state for a period of thirty days immediately prior to the date of application who has attained the age of seventy is entitled to receive a fishing license, a trapping license, and a hunting license, at a cost of five dollars for each license.
A resident in the state for a period of thirty days immediately prior to the date of application who has attained the age of seventy is entitled to receive free of charge a bowhunting privilege and a muzzle-loading privilege.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to persons who are active or reserve duty members of the Unites States armed services or of the organized militia, and to certain veterans thereof
Purpose
To provide free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to all active duty members and reservists of the armed forces as well as all members of the New York Guard, including components of the National Guard and certain veterans.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends Subdivision 2 of section 11-0715 of the environmental conservation law to include additional active and reserve members of the armed forces as well as members of the New York Guard and certain veter- ans to the list of persons eligible to receive a free hunting, trapping or fishing license.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date.
Justification
Active duty members and reservists of the United States Armed Forces as well as members of the New York State Guard and National Guard have made a commitment to protect and defend our nation and state. It is only fitting that we recognize their commitment by expanding the existing waiver provisions governing the application of license fees for hunting, fishing or trapping. Doing so demonstrates our respect and gratitude.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S.7568/A.6219 Referred to Environmental Conservation
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.